Martin v



(No Model.)

M. V. BEIGER 81,- A. EBERHART.

FABRIC BOOT.

No. 452,158. Patented May 12, 1891.

Wihaa (M, I Jaye/ fly m: NORRIS Ferns cm, munrumu, WAQHINGTDN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN V. BEIGER AND ADOLPHUS EBERI-IART, OF MISI-IAVAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS TO THE MISHAVVAKA WOOLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

OF SAME PLACE.

FABRIC BOOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,158, dated May 12, 1891. Application filed August 26, 1890 Serial No. 363,102. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARTIN V. BEIGER and ADOLPHUS EBERHART, of Mishawaka, St. Joseph county, Indiana, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Fabric Boots, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates particularly to a fabric boot woven, braided, knit, or felted, so as to give the boota certain amount of stiffness or rigidity.

The object of our invention is to provide such a boot or sock with a flexible portion constituting a top for the boot, whereby its effioiency as a means for excluding the snow and. for keeping the leg of the wearer warm is preserved, and at the same time the boot is made more comfortable andconvenient in use, owing to the flexibility of the said top. Ve make the boot-leg proper short, extending it up to slightly above the ankle only, and to this short leg we apply a flexible top, the lower edge of which is preferably slipped over the short leg and secured thereto by a line of stitching near its top. This provides a. flap over which the top of an overshoe may be buckled to serve as a chafing-band to prevent the wear of the boot-leg, or it may be worn over the top of the overshoe to exclude snow therefrom. WVe also employ a strip of suitable material, which is secured to the inside of the flexible leg at the back and laps over the edge of the stiff leg, whereby the drawing on and removal of the boot are facilitated.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a boot containing onrimprovements. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same, partly in vertical section.

In the drawings, A represents the foot of a fabric boot, and B the top thereof, which extends in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 about as high as the instep. This boot may be of felt, knit, woven, orbraided wool or cotton, or other similar fabric, and We provide a flexible top 0 therefor, which, in addition to serving the ordinary uses of a boottop, is adapted when used with an overshoe to keep the snow from entering the .top of the latter or to prevent the wearing effect of the overshoe upon theankle of the boot, according as the flap of said flexible top is extended over the overshoe-top or is secured inside of the same. This flexible top may be made of oil-cloth, thin leather, or of a woolen or cotton knit, woven, or braided, or felt fabric, and it may be made to extend to the knee or higher, if desired. \Ve prefer to have the lower end of said flexible top inclose the stiff top of the boot when made in this form and to secure it along the margin of the latter by the line of stitchingindicated M1) in the drawings,whereby to form below said line of stitching a flap portion, which is designated 0', and which may be, as before stated, pulled down over the top of an overshoe, so as to exclude the snow therefrom, or be used to prevent the wear of the overshoe upon the boot-leg by being interposed between said leg and the top of the overshoe.

D is a strip of leather, cloth, or other appropriate material, which is secured at one end upon the inside of the back of the flexible top 0 and extends down over the edge of the leg B, so as to prevent the engaging of the top of the leg by the heel when the boot is being put on. The flexible top may be provided with a lacing-cord c or other means for tightening it around the limb.

We claim 1. The combination, with a fabric boot having a stiff or rigid foot and ankle portion, of a flexible top secured to the ankle portion and projecting below the point of attachment to form a flap to inclose the top of an overshoe, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a fabric boot hav ing a stiff or rigid foot and ankle portion, of a flexible top having its lower end projected over the L01) of said leg and secured thereto to provide a flap, and a strip having one of its ends secured to the interior of the top at the rear thereof and the other to the stiff portion of the leg, substantially as described.

MARTIN V. BEIGER. ADOLPI-IUS EBERHART. Witnesses:

FRED LIOHFELT, JOHN J. SOHINDLER. 

